Aug 29 – Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist To endure temporal agonies for the sake of the truth was not a heavy burden for such men as John; rather it was easily borne and even desirable, for he knew eternal joy would be his reward. Since death was ever at hand, such men considered it... Continue Reading →
28 August, Friday — Wayward Hearts on Fire
Aug 28 – Memorial for St. Augustine, bishop, doctor After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, Augustine (354-430) became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of his thinking at the time comes from his Confessions: “God, give me chastity and... Continue Reading →
27 August, Thursday — Black Swans and White Angels
Aug 27 – Memorial for St. Monica, married woman St. Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted a heresy and was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night, she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the... Continue Reading →
20 June, Saturday — Lost but Found
Saturday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Chr 24:17-25Lk 2:41-51 “And all who heard him were astounded” The gospel readings today depict what is essentially a nightmare scenario for any parent -- a missing child. Certainly, all parents will know that sinking feeling that they get when they turn around and realise that their child is missing. And... Continue Reading →
19 June, Friday — Hearts Burdened with Sin but Bursting with Love
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus The devotion to the Sacred Heart (also known as the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacratissimum Cor Iesu in Latin) is one of the most widely practiced and well-known Roman Catholic devotions, taking Jesus Christ′s physical heart as the representation of his divine love for humanity. This devotion is predominantly used in the Roman Catholic Church and... Continue Reading →
18 June, Thursday — Our Lives Are One Big Prayer
Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time Sir 48:1-14Mt 6:7-15 “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” One of the positive outcomes of being in lock-down is the sheer amount of interaction that my wife and I have enjoyed with our 2-year-old son. And the most positive outcome of this increased interaction is... Continue Reading →
17 June, Wednesday — Hearing God amidst the Noise
Wednesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Kgs 2:1,6-14Mt 6:1-6,16-18 “And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you” In the 21st century reality that we live in, it is not uncommon for people to share their thoughts and feelings on the internet, specifically social media. Whether on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok, we... Continue Reading →
21 April, Tuesday – Knowing the Father
Acts 4:32-37John 3:7-15 "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes" As I read today’s gospel readings, this line struck me as both very poetic and rather strange. “The wind blows where it wills, and you... Continue Reading →
19 April, Sunday – ‘Blind’ Faith
19 Apr – Divine Mercy Sunday The Congregation for Divine Worship decreed in 2003 that “throughout the world, the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, wit confidence in divine benevolence, the difference and trials that humankind will experience in the years... Continue Reading →
18 April, Saturday – Learning to Listen in Silence
Acts 4:13-21Mk 16:9-15 He appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised As Christians, it is not uncommon to hear testimonies from our friends and loved ones of how they encountered God, or experienced a revelation... Continue Reading →
